Lesson 3/45 min
Rampal, Matarbari, Payra and Banshkhali
Four big coal plants at a glance
| Item | Rampal | Matarbari | Payra | Banshkhali |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Rampal, Bagerhat | Moheshkhali, Cox's Bazar | Dhankhali, Kalapara, Patuakhali | Banshkhali, Chattogram |
| River/water | Pashur river | Kohelia river to the east; Bay of Bengal to the south and west | Andharmanik river | — |
| Capacity | 1,320 (2×660) MW | 1,200 (2×600) MW | 1,320 (2×660) MW | 1,320 MW |
| Fuel | Coal | Coal | Coal | Coal |
| Partner/finance | India and Bangladesh | Japan and Bangladesh | Joint with China (BCPCL) | S Alam Group (70%) and China |
Rampal (Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant)
- Run by Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company (BIFPCL), a 50:50 venture of India's NTPC and Bangladesh's PDB
- Foundation stone: 5 October 2013
- First unit formally inaugurated in September 2022 (the book says 6 September)
- Second unit inaugurated on 1 November 2023 by Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi, virtually
- Builder: India's BHEL; consultant: Germany's Fichtner Group; ultra super-critical technology
- About 14 km north of the Sundarbans; UNESCO objected over environmental damage
Matarbari
- Project name: Matarbari Ultra Super Critical Coal Fired Power Project
- Loan agreement: 16 June 2014; construction launched: 28 January 2018
- On 11 November 2023 the Prime Minister inaugurated the first unit (600 MW) and the Single Point Mooring (SPM)
- Area 1,414 acres; contractor: Sumitomo–Toshiba–IHI consortium; implementing company CPGCBL
Payra and Banshkhali
- Payra: foundation stone 14 October 2016; inaugurated 21 March 2022; built by Bangladesh-China Power Company (BCPCL)
- Payra was the first use of ultra super-critical technology in Bangladesh (by the book)
- Banshkhali: the country's biggest private-sector plant; also known as the SS Power Plant
- Bangladesh is 13th in the world in using ultra super-critical technology (Khandokar)
- The book names Rampal and SS Power (1,320 MW) as large plants
Did you know?: The 50 MW Sutiakhali solar plant is at Gouripur, Mymensingh, and has operated since 2020. A larger solar plant was approved in 2026, but it is not yet built.
Check yourself
Where is the Matarbari power plant, and which country is helping?
At a glance
- 1
Rampal (Bagerhat, Pashur river): 1,320 MW, BIFPCL; second unit inaugurated 1 November 2023.
- 2
Matarbari (Moheshkhali): 1,200 MW, Japanese support; first unit 11 November 2023.
- 3
Payra (Kalapara, Patuakhali, Andharmanik river): 1,320 MW; inaugurated 21 March 2022.
- 4
Banshkhali (Chattogram): the largest in the private sector, 1,320 MW.
- 5
Rampal is about 14 km north of the Sundarbans; UNESCO objected.